RIYADH: Despite the chilly weather, citizens and residents flocked to Eid grounds and mosques across the Kingdom Friday morning to offer Eid Al-Adha prayers.
At the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the prayers were led by Sheikh Osama Khayyat while Hussein Al-Asheikh led the prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed attended the prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque.
Eid congregations were held at about 200 designated mosques and 30 Eid grounds in various parts of the capital city. Prince Sattam, acting governor of Riyadh province, offered the prayers at the city’s main congregation in Deira along with several members of the royal family, high-ranking officials and foreign diplomats.
Later at a breakfast reception, Prince Sattam received Saudi military officials, several groups of citizens and a number of residents who came to congratulate him on the occasion.
The theme of the sermons at Deira Eid Ground underlined the significance of Eid Al-Adha and the spirit of sacrifice for the cause of Allah. Addressing the congregation, the imam called on the faithful to renew their contacts with their near and dear ones in the spirit of Islamic brotherhood. The imam invoked the blessings of Allah on all Muslims, and prayed for the safety and welfare of mankind.
“This harmony, evident on the occasion of Eid, is the means of strength for the Muslim Ummah; in fact, it’s a divine gift that Muslims must make use of,” said Junaid A. Al-Otaibi, a Saudi national offering his prayers at Deira.
In Riyadh, an overnight rush for Eid purchases preceded the Eid festivities.
Some of the capital’s major shopping centers reported brisk sales boosted in part by bargain offers and lucky draws. Some supermarkets are offering cars, rings and electronic items to shoppers, who will be selected as winners during the raffle draws to be organized during the Eid holidays. Supermarkets were also stacked with all kinds of foodstuffs for Eid. The prices of goats, lamb and camels were moderate because of the adequate supply of the livestock this year.
In fact, the number of livestock imported from abroad increased by 20 percent as per the plan of the Ministry of Agriculture that sought to import a large quantity so as to push prices down to affordable level, said Jaber Al-Shehri, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Agriculture. Mujib bin Raza Siddiqui, a Riyadh resident, said he purchased four goats at SR470 per head.
